The free travel to Gozo initiative being held this weekend will cost taxpayers more than €250,000 as the Government will refund the costs incurred by the Gozo Channel, this newspaper has learnt.

The aim of this scheme is to attract visitors and boost the economy of Gozo during this time of year when business is traditionally slow. As a result, passengers and vehicles boarding the Gozo Channel ferry over this weekend will travel for free.

However, doubts were raised over whether the ferry company could afford this initiative, due to the heavy losses registered in recent years. Gozo Minister Anton Refalo recently said that in January alone, Gozo Channel lost about €700,000.

Contacted by The Sunday Times of Malta, Gozo Channel chairman Joe Cordina confirmed that the Gozo Ministry would be footing the bill as it would refund the cost of all tickets sold between Friday and tonight.

He added that this is one of quietest weekends of the year, and so this initiative was likely to become an annual event due to its multiplier effect on the Gozitan economy.

Asked about the feedback so far, Dr Cordina said that judging by the response registered on Friday, they were expecting a good weekend. He said the company was already operating a shuttle service to cope with demand.

Questions sent by this newspaper to the Gozo Ministry about the cost of this scheme and the expected number of visitors, were not answered by the time of going to print.

Sources said that on a good weekend around 40,000 passengers and 10,000 vehicles cross the channel on a Friday to spend the weekend in Gozo.

A conservative estimate based on these figures would translate to a total cost of €250,000 considering that a significant number would still be eligible to travel for free using the Kartanzjan or at a subsidised rate as Gozo residents.